Trials: Welcome Here

James 1:1-4
For most people, Christian maturity is desirable and possible, desirable but impossible, or not desirable so that the possibility of attaining it is irrelevant. They either want it or don’t want it, and then it boils down to whether they’ll believe God for it. Based on this Scripture in James, the key to maturity starts with an attitude, then accepts the circumstances, then achieves the next level of maturity.
It starts with an attitude
– Count it all joy. The word for count, hēgeomai, implies an authoritative decision, the word might be used by royalty. I love JB Phillips paraphrase, "When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends!" There are a couple things that help us here. For one, he addresses this exhortation to “my brothers.” I think he’s saying, count it all joy, y’all. We should deal with trials as community, not as individuals. The intercession and encouragement of our faith family are vital to us having a joyful attitude. (Notice also, “when” not “if.” So long prosperity gospel.)
It accepts the circumstances
“for you know.” “Let.” Accept the trial seeing it as a means to an end. A means of God being glorified. A means for me being made more like Christ. In parenting, if a method of punishment no longer has any effect on the disobedient child, they have learned to take it with no ill effect, then the action is no longer helpful and different or more severe punishment is needed. As Christ followers, we must allow God to work through the trial, even when it hurts. Macarthur says, (though I’m not sure it’s original to him) the only way out of a trial is through it.
It achieves the next level of maturity.
“That you may be perfect and complete.” I believe this means the next level of maturity – viz. you are now perfectly and completely mature enough for the next trial, and to live and serve as a mature Christ follower. When I start lifting weights, it hurts. I struggle. But in my mind – I accept that this trial will bear fruit in greater maturity – namely bulging biceps. After the struggle, I get stronger, and can now lift this weight with ease. At the other end we are glad for the results.

Job says, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you…”